Salmond was a political joke for a great many years and if Labour hadn't (rightly) given Scotland local devolved govenrment he would have stayed that way. The SNP are a bunch of chancers who like so many politicians are in for themselves. The concept of Scotland suddenly becoming a completely seperate country is frankly laughable. This island is tiny, Scotland, Wales, and England have (apart from the anomoly of sporting teams) been the same country for so long splitting them up is as rediculous as Yorkshire declaring independence. My grandparents were Scottish, and I'm guessing that there are millions of English who have Scots ancestry somewhere. We had a Scottish prime minister not 2 years ago.
The SNP are looking at running Scotland unopposed for a long time if they get their way. They get to set the time and all the conditions for the referendum, without input from any of their opposition in Scotland or with any regard for the rest of the country they are actually part of (the UK). If the Scots do vote for independence the SNP can live off it for decades. Who would oppose them? The big losers will be the Scottish people, I see bleak times ahead if this bunch of clueless muppets get their way.

I'm British, my kids have English, Scottish and Irish grandparents and great grandparents, it would be a sad loss for me if this fat fool with the help of Mel Gibson manages to rake up enough anti-English sentiment to destroy hundreds of years of unity.

According to the opinion polls, if taken now, a referendum would not be in favour of independence.

Salmond knows that, he just wants to get another option that people might just go for (i.e. Devo max) onto the ballot paper so that he won't suffer a "defeat".
Trouble is, he says it's not up to him to define "Devo max" ... and Cameron (rightly, my goodness !) says that if it's not defined you can't put it on a Ballot sheet.

The Barbudo prediction is that is that the end-result will just be a little bit more autonomy for Holyrood.
Which, in the long run is probably good for the SNP because, if they actually got independence, I don't think the SNP would be in government after the first couple of terms.
I mean, once they'd got what they've been banging on about all this time, they'd have to actually be competent rather than just be anti-Westminster.

Personally I would welcome the Scots getting their independence and taking their Labour MP's out of Westminster.

Give them their "North Sea Oil" they keep banging on about and cut ALL subsidies.

Let them run a left wing "Nirvana" in Scotland, tax the companies to the hilt and watch them all come South.

Give the Conservatives 50 years of power in what remains of the UK (of Britain and NI) and we'll all be happy.

However, it's all or nothing. If you are out you are OUT. There should also be no option of rejoining.

Their call but let's get this nonsense off the table once and for all.

IN or OUT.

You know the best thing? You've got no say in it

I don't mind. Scotland is in the Union (and imo has earned the right to make it's own decision).

Another deluded right-winger who thinks that Labour only ever gain control thanks to the Scottish MPs.

You are aware that only ONCE in post-war elections has Labour needed the 41 Scottish Labour MPs to form a majority aren't you?

Ssshhhh you don't want to spoil his delusion.

It its YOU who is deluded......

You cannot quote that statistic as evidence of what I am saying. Demographics change, boundaries move.

e.g. The Lib Dems command a far greater share nowdays than they did after the war.

However, if it led to 41 fewer Labour seats at Westminster, it would be good for the country.

Sorry I'll rephrase my earlier comment: you aren't deluded, you are clearly mad - stark, staring bonkers, MAD

Aye, where is Shirley Porter when you need her eh?